~A Once and Again Series~

The Way We Are

Hey! Thanks for reading/reviewing, as always! I'm actually thinking that I'm not going to write about the summer months after all! I'm just going to wrap up the loose ends and tie a nice pretty bow on this story... and done! Oh, and Danielle, PDAs stand for Public Displays of Affection. : )

Chapter 28// The One I Hold so Dear

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"Mom?" Eli asked, a bit nervously. His father had told him that his mother wanted to see him. Eli didn't know what that mean... if it was bad or good.

[[Eli - *holding guitar* I don't get my mother. I don't understand why she never wants to let me do the things I want. *strums a chord, sighs* I bet she hates the failure of a son she produced.]]

"Eli!" Karen said enthusiastically, as she came into the front hallway.

"Hi," Eli said unsurely. His mother was never this happy around him anymore... Something was different. "What's up?" Eli asked, setting down his guitar case. "I just came from practice... and I really should get home before-" Eli cut himself off. He bit his tongue.

Karen's eyes were injured by Eli calling Lily's his "home". Eli could see how his slip had hurt her.

[[Eli - *defensively* Well, I do spend more time over there... It is my home... one of them.]]

Karen looked away, shuffling the magazines on the front table. When she looked back at her son, her eyes were cool and collected. "I wanted to talk to you."

Eli nodded and scratched the back of his head, "That's what Dad said."

Karen nodded herself, and looked around, "Well, come into the living room... are you hungry? Thirsty?"

"No," Eli answered as he sat in the chair across from his mother. He waited for his mother to begin.

Karen had planned what to say, but found herself blurting out, "This is still your home, you know?"

Eli nodded, "Of course I know that, mom-"

Karen cut him off, her eyes as sharp as her words, "This is your home as much as Lily's and your father's house."

"I know, mom," Eli grunted. He slunk down in his chair.

Karen sighed, realizing this wasn't how she wanted to start this conversation. She looked back over at her son, her voice having lost its edge, "I love you, E."

"I know," Eli said, but his voice was dull... unsure.

"I will never ever stop loving you," Karen continued, "And I may not show it best at times, because I'm trying to be a good mother... Because I'm trying to do what's best for you."

"But--" Eli tried to cut in, but Karen held up a hand.

"Just let me say this, E," She said and Eli let her continue, "And I realized that what I see as being best for you... and what is really best for you are two different things. I forgot that you know what's best for you. I thought I knew you better than you knew yourself. So, I thought college was where you should be headed. And... I was wrong."

Eli, who had been scowling slightly, looked up in surprise. Did his mother just admit to being wrong? "You were?" Eli asked.

Karen nodded, her eyes shining with love for her son, "Yes. You love music. I knew that, but I pushed it aside... hoping I could mold you into being what I had always pictured for you."

"What did you picture?" Eli asked softly.

Karen laughed, "A doctor. It's silly..."

Eli smiled, "I hate the sight of blood."

Karen nodded, "I know." She laughed again. "But, I was hanging onto the idea of you being someone successful... someone important... I was hanging onto this idea so much, that I pushed away any thought that you could do something else. I always figured you'd go to college. I never thought it would be any different."

Eli nodded, "But it is different."

Karen smiled, "So I realized." She paused, looking directly into her son's eyes, "I think you'll make a great musician."

Eli couldn't believe how much those words touched him. His eyes teared up a bit, as finally... finally, his mother was believing in him. Finally, his mother saw him for him. It felt good, it did.

Karen reached out, touching his hand, "And you'll always be successful and important to me... no matter what you do in life."

Eli tugged his mother closer to him, giving her a long hug. "I love you, mom," He whispered.

"I love you, E," Karen said back, brimming with emotion.

"I know," Eli said, and this time he did know.

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"I can't believe school gets out next week!" Jessie said happily.

Grace, leaning against Jessie's dresser, smiled. It had been one crazy school-year, that was for sure. She and Eli had started out as a couple, only to break up when Grace became afraid of them being so much attached when she was so young still. And then they had gotten back together. Grace had turned 16, and now she had a special summer looming before her.

Jessie began singing along to the song on the radio, bopping around and dancing. Grace watched her with a smile for her step-sister. When the station broke into a commercial Grace spoke up, "It's been a good school year for you, then?"

Jessie turned to her and grinned, "It's been amazing!" Jessie stopped, thinking it over, "I started out feeling horrible... I had no friends, none at all... and you and Eli were so wrapped up in each other, I felt invisible around here," Jessie looked up to make sure she hadn't hurt Grace's feelings and then continued, "But, then I met Katie. AND everything changed! I've never felt so..." Jessie trailed off, giving a shy smile instead of any more words.

Grace's mouth itched to ask Jessie what she had been about to say, but she knew Jessie had stopped for a reason. Grace respected that Jessie wanted to keep some things secret. But, Grace had an inkling to what had been on the tip of Jessie's tongue. It was written all over Jessie's face whenever she spoke about Katie. Jessie would tell Grace when she was ready.

"Eli and I are back together," Grace broke out suddenly. "We have been for a while."

Jessie looked up, surprised... but not too surprised. She smiled, "I'm glad. Eli really loves you, you know?"

Grace smiled. "I know," She said contentedly.

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"Grace?" Eli asked. He was disappointed to see that her room lay empty. He entered though, because he knew she was home, and figured she'd come up to her room soon enough. Eli just wanted to tell her about what his mother had said. Eli felt very happy, knowing his mother had finally come around. He wanted to share the good news with her.

Grace's backpack lay spilled against her bed. Eli sat down on an uncluttered edge. He smiled as he saw the CD he had made Grace so long ago lay amongst the notebooks and folders. Eli took out the CD and put it into Grace's CD player. He hadn't listened to some of the band's old work in quite a while. He planned to listen through the whole CD, but found himself jumping ahead to his favorite... the one he had written especially for Grace.

"There's a girl I cherish

Brown eyes that will never perish

I couldn't be more gone

But this doesn't feel so wrong

Nothing's left in my mind

Thoughts of her taking up all my time..."

Eli smiled, a rush of overwhelming feelings coming over him. He had loved Grace so much even back then. Eli softly sang the words, knowing that if his father came into the room, he'd be busted. His and Grace's relationship starting back up was supposed to be a secret. But Eli didn't want to stop the song. It was too full of memories and feelings.

"There's no one else

There's no other Grace

No one could ever take her place

And I try to live and breathe

But I feel her inside of me

I have nothing to fear

Except the one I hold so dear..."

Eli smiled. He definitely had to play this song on the tour. He'd start out with a dedication for his love, Grace, and then launch into the song. Eli was already picturing the pleased look on Grace's face as she watched him from off-stage. This was their song. Eli laid back on the bed, but sat up quickly as he remembered the stuff spread out on the bed. He didn't want to crush it. Eli pushed some of the notebooks and papers to the side, clearing a spot for him to relax on. He paused as his hand picked up a pamphlet. He read the title: The Turner's Future Actor's Workshop. He opened it, reading through it curiously.

"...So life goes on

And I sing her song

There's no one else

There's no other Grace

No one could ever take her place

There's no other Grace..."

"Eli?"

Eli looked up, quickly shoving the pamphlet under a notebook before Grace saw him holding it.

Grace was smiling as she stood in the doorway. She looked lovingly at Eli, "This song means so much to me."

Eli smiled, reaching out to take her hand, "Me too." The song had ended, so Eli went to the CD player, making it play again from the beginning. Then he went back to Grace, taking her in his arms. "I love you."

Grace smiled, "I know. I love you, too."

"I know," Eli said. He looked over Grace's shoulder, at the bed... the corner of the pamphlet stuck out from under the notebook. Inside Eli was confused, curious, worried... he had read the details of the workshop--- it took place over the summer.

"What are you thinking of?" Grace asked him as they swayed slightly to the song.

Eli looked back at her big brown eyes, "You... of course."

Grace smiled, pleased. She dropped her head to rest on Eli's shoulder as they continued slow-dancing.

* * *

Rick paused as he walked past Grace's open door. Grace and Eli were slow-dancing, their eyes closed as they moved to the music. Rick was surprised... but not that surprised. He had always assumed they would get back together. It was clear they cared for each other deeply-- just like it was clear Jessie cared deeply for Katie. Rick nodded to himself, he was hesitating. He continued past Grace's door and headed up to the attic. He was going to talk to Jessie.

Rick knocked on Jessie's door.

"Come in," Jessie called out.

Rick entered. He and Jessie regarded each other, a bit shyly... a bit nervously.

Rick continued to walk towards his daughter. He sat on the edge of her bed. She was sitting against the headboard of her bed with her arms grasping her knees. Rick looked forward, at her room, instead of at her as he spoke, "I will always love you... no matter what."

Jessie was silent.

Rick sighed. He looked down at his hands, so much like his father's. So worn, so hard... worker's hands. Finally he spoke again, "Jess... I know it was hard for you to have had me witness your's and... Katie's kiss..."

Jessie squirmed a bit.

Rick glanced over his shoulder, briefly, looking at his little girl. "It's been hard for me too. I never expected... I was surprised. I hadn't considered that... But, if this makes you happy..."

Jessie looked off to her side.

"Then, you should do... what makes you happy," Rick continued. "And... Katie... if she makes you happy, then..." Rick sighed, and lapsed into silence.

Jessie turned her face back to look at her father's still back. Her eyes were full of unshed tears.

Rick stood up, he looked back at his daughter, trying not to see the tears in her eyes, "Just... remember I'll always love you, no matter what."

Jessie nodded, unable to look into her father's eyes. "I know," She said lifelessly.

Rick paused, unsure, and then patted Jessie's knee and quickly left the room. Jessie reached up, brushing the tears off her cheeks.

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